It's 2019 — It’s Time You Had a Smart Speaker in Your Life

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A smart speaker will instantly make your life easier. Yes, really! It'll allow you to get information, set timers, play your favorite audio content, and perform a number of typically mundane tasks via voice commands. The clever home gadget can also control connected home appliances, including lights, thermostats, and smart TVs, among many others.

Currently, you can choose between smart speakers with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Siri. Cortana by Microsoft used to be an option, but it's no longer a factor in this product category.

Choosing a virtual assistant is a matter of personal preference, but here are some guidelines for picking between them: Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant are the two most popular options, and the Google Assistant has an edge in terms of functionality. Siri does the basics right, but it has yet to catch the Google Assistant in terms of capabilities, though Apple is constantly making meaningful improvements to Siri.

Now that you've got the basics down, you can find the right smart speaker for your lifestyle and needs from our top picks.

The second generation Sonos One is the smart speaker most prospective buyers need to know about. Compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, the gadget has an easy setup, six microphones for seamlessly hearing your voice commands, and convenient touch controls. Rather impressively, the speaker is also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2. This means that it can effortlessly stream audio content from an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.

Unsurprisingly, the audio quality of the Sonos One speaker is superb. With two high-quality audio drivers on board, the speaker sounds incredible for its size. Of course, being a Sonos product, the speaker — available in black or white — is easy to incorporate into an existing setup in your home.

The latest Sonos One received a high review score from TechRadar. The editor gave the device high marks for its sound quality, as well as for being compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant.

The Google Home Max is the best Google Assistant-powered smart speaker. It packs a mind-blowing audio punch, courtesy of a duo of 4.5-inch subwoofers and two 0.7-inch custom tweeters. The fabric-covered gadget is also incredibly stylish — you can grab one with an ash or a charcoal finish.

The speaker has been designed to automatically adjust itself to deliver optimal audio experience, depending on its placement and the content you're playing. TechRadar praised the device's audio quality in an in-depth review.

In addition to Wi-Fi connectivity with Chromecast and multiroom audio support, the Google Home Max also offers you the option to pair your favorite devices via Bluetooth. Those looking for an even more immersive audio experience can pair two Google Home Max speakers in a stereo setup.

The Apple HomePod has better audio quality than any other smart speaker available today. Available in white or space gray, the device sounds amazing for its size, and it'll wow you every time you play your favorite tunes. It also picks up voice commands better than its competitors.

The audio quality of the Apple HomePod comes courtesy of seven high-end audio drivers, a high-excursion woofer, Apple's A8 processor (the same as in the iPhone 6), and six built-in microphones. Combined, they let the speaker constantly deliver great sound, regardless of where it's placed. Its audio performance earned it high marks from The Verge.

You can pair two HomePods for true stereo sound, or use multiple units in multiroom setup. The speaker works best with Apple Music, though voice commands with Spotify isn't available with the HomePod.

A couple of recent updates made the Bose Home Speaker 500 one of our favorite picks, despite it's hefty price tag. The home gadget is now compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. It also has Apple AirPlay 2 support and Bluetooth connectivity in case your home Wi-Fi network decides to take a break.

Like all Bose products, the Home Speaker 500 has great audio quality. It has been tuned to deliver stereo sound with an impressively wide soundstage for its form factor. The device's voice-recognition capabilities are also worthy of its price tag.

The device looks impressive in the metal, thanks to an anodized aluminum body (available in black or silver) and a built-in color screen. The latter is really awesome! It displays album and podcast artwork, or a handy digital clock when you're not playing content.

We like the handy external controls of the speaker. They include six buttons for one-touch access to your favorite audio content. You can tweak them, as well as the speaker's settings via a mobile app.

Bose also offers a smart soundbar that's compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. Available in black or white, it has an elegant design and great sound quality. But at $799, it surely is pricey.

The palm-sized Google Home Mini is the more affordable, less loud variant of the tech giant's smart speaker. Powered by a single 40-millimeter audio driver, it'll allow you to seamlessly access the Google Assistant via voice commands or by tapping its fabric-covered surface.

We really love the colorful design of the gadget. It's available in a quartet of attention-commanding finishes — aqua, chalk, charcoal, and coral.

Overall, the Google Home Mini is a great option for first-time smart speaker buyers. It's designed to offer easy Google Assistant access in every room of your home. If you stream music often, consider another model — or the larger Google Home Max, as this one is simply too small to deliver a great listening experience.

The Sonos Beam is the best smart soundbar available today. Like the Sonos One we already mentioned, the Beam is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. It has an impressively compact footprint, an easy setup, and excellent audio quality that's worthy of a home entertainment centerpiece. You can order the Beam in black or white.

The impressive sound of the Sonos Beam comes courtesy of high-quality audio drivers. You can expand the audio experience by adding a Sonos Sub for thumping bass. There's even an option to create a full surround setup with a Sub and duo of One speakers, but it will cost you a pretty penny.

Review editors from CNET, TechRadar, and The Verge gave the Sonos Beam high marks for delivering great audio quality in a compact form factor.

The second generation Amazon Echo speaker has a sleek design and better sound quality than its predecessor. The device's Dolby-tuned pair of audio drivers delivers a more robust bass, while seven built-in microphones ensure that Alexa will hear you better than ever. Priced below $100, the Echo is our favorite pick for those looking to get started with Amazon Alexa.

The available finishes for the speaker include great-looking fabric and wood choices, which enable it to seamlessly blend into the decor of any room. We like that the external shell of the speaker is easily removable, allowing you to refresh it down the line, especially since the shells are reasonably priced between $20 and $30.

If you're looking for an even more affordable Amazon Alexa speaker, consider the latest Echo Dot instead. Priced at only $50, it has a cool fabric finish, but inferior sound quality. The Amazon Echo Plus, on the other hand, costs more, but sounds better and doubles as a smart home hub.

The Three by Klipsch is a Google Assistant speaker designed to appeal to even the most discerning audiophiles. Crafted from wood, metal, and fabric, it has a gorgeous midcentury design, as well as superb tactility. Most importantly, The Three has audio quality that's worthy of its conversation-worthy looks.

The Three's impeccable sound comes courtesy of two full-range audio drivers, two passive radiators, and a massive long-throw woofer. Like a proper audiophile-grade product, the device is compatible with high-resolution audio content. Overall, regardless of your music preferences, the speaker is all but guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you play your favorite tunes.

With a $500 price tag, The Three speaker by Klipsch is surely price, though its design and audio performance make it well worth the investment.

The Ultimate Ears Megablast speaker has cool design, Amazon Alexa support, and Bluetooth connectivity. Its waterproof rating is IP67, meaning you can fully submerge it underwater. We like that it can float on the surface of the water — making it perfect for pool parties.

The sound quality of the Megablast is great for its form factor, thanks to a duo of active audio drivers, two tweeters, and two passive radiators for thumping bass. In case you don't need such a powerful audio experience, consider the more compact and affordable UE Blast speaker instead.

In addition to being a solid Amazon Alexa-powered speaker, the Megablast is also great as a standalone Bluetooth option. It can last up to 16 hours between battery charges.

Like all Ultimate Ears products, the Megablast has eye-catching, colorful design. There are four colors to choose from: black, white, blue, and merlot.

The splashproof Sony XB501G smart speaker delivers an entertaining audio experience, courtesy of a massive 125-millimeter woofer and a duo of 45-millimeter full-range audio drivers. In terms of sheer bass delivery, the XB501G is truly in a league of its own among Google Assistant-powered speakers.

Unlike any other speaker on this list, Sony XB501G has built-in party lights that add a whole new dimension to its entertainment capabilities. You can customize them to your liking via a mobile app.

The speaker also has a built-in handle, as well as a tripod mount. Combined with its big sound and water-resistant design, it's a great option for outdoor gatherings and pool parties.

In addition to Chromecast and multiroom audio support, the gadget also has Bluetooth connectivity with NFC for one-touch pairing with compatible mobile devices. It can last up to a solid 16 hours between battery charges as a Bluetooth speaker. You can also use it to charge other small gadgets.

Entertaining sound with powerful bass

Built-in lights for visual entertainment

Splash-resistant body

Great battery life when used as a Bluetooth speaker

Capable of charging mobile devices

Not the best-looking smart speaker out there

Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.